Assembling and crimping apparatus



Nov. 3, 1964 F. w. KULICKE, JR.. ETAL 3,155,138

ASSEMBLING AND CRIMPING APPARATUS l5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 13, 1958 Tm 3 M TE.) NK Ec Q QN VHA N wN IKWA QM m ON K U mu. a mmmwm EEBB RLO :IGR A Nov. 3, 1964 F. w. KULICKE, JR., ETAL 3,155,133

ASSEMBLINGAND CRIMPINGAPPARATUS 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 15, 1958 INVENTOR.

Nov. 3, 1964 F. w. KULlCKE, JR., ETAL 3, 3

ASSEMBLING AND CRIMFING APPARATUS Original Fild Jan. 1a, 1958 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Nov. 3, 1964 F. w. KULlCKE, JR, ETAL 3,155,138

ASSEMBLING AND CRIMPING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 13, 1958 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

Nov. 3, 1964 F. w. KULICKE, JR., ETAL 3,155,138

ASSEMBLING AND CRIMPING APPARATUS 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Jan. 13, 1958 m m m m Nov. 3, 1964 F. w. KULICKE, JR., ETAL 3, 55,

ASSEMBLING AND CRIMPING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 13, 1958 15 Sheets-Sheet 7 *n om IN V EN TOR.

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Nov. 3, 1964 F. w. KULlCKE, JR.. ETAL 3,155,138

ASSEMBLINGAND CRIMPINGAPPARATUS 7 Original Filed Jan. 15, 1958 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR.

F. w. KULICKE, JR., ETA'L 3,155,138

ASSEMBLING AND CRIMPING APPARATUS Nov. 3, 1964 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 Original Filed Jan. 13, 1958 INVENTOR.

Nov. 3, 1964 F. w. KULICKE, JR., ETAL 1 3,155,138

ASSEMBLING AND CRIMFING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 13, 1958 15 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR.

Nov. 3, 1964 F. w. KULICKE, JR., ETAL A 3,155,138

ASSEMBLING AND CRIMPING APPARATUS 15 Sheets-Sheet 11 Original Filed Jan. 13, 1958 INVENTOR.

Nov. 3, 1964 F. w. KULlCKE, JR., ETAL 3,155,138

ASSEMBLING AND CRIMPING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 13, 1958 15 Sheets-Sheet 12 Nov. 3, 1964 F. w. KULICKE'JR. ETAL 3,155,138

ASSEMBLINGAND CRIMPINGAPPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 13, 1958 15 Sheets-Sheet 14 Magnetic RGHT STAKTINB SWITCH IN V EN TOR.

Nov. 3, 1964 F. w. KULICKE, JR., ETAL 3,155,133

ASSEMBLING AND CRIMPING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 13, 1958 15 Sheets-Sheet 15 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,155,138 ASSEMBLING AND CRHIPING APPARATUS Frederick W. Kulicke, In, Philadelphia, and Glendon H. Schwalrn and Robert Uilman, Harrisburg, Pa, assignors to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. Continuation of appiicatiou Ser. No. 708,602, Jan. 13, 1958. This application July 20, 1962, Ser. No. 215,232 6 Ciaims. (til. 1531) This invention relates to apparatus for applying electrical terminals or connectors to electrical devices such as condensers, resistors, fuses, transistors and the like. The invention is herein disclosed with particular reference to the assembling of terminals to wires extending from resistors but is adaptable to usage with other elec trical components or devices.

In the manufacture of electronic equipment by mass production methods, the need arises for large numbers of components having suitable terminals or connectors secured thereto. Where printed circuit boards are used, for example, and components such as resistors or transistors having wires extending therefrom are employed, a terminal is crimped onto the wires and the terminals are inserted into the boards. The components are usually, if not always, supplied in loose-piece form and the assembly of the terminals to the components, or component wires is a relatively delicate operation since the component itself must not be damaged in the process. Furthermore, the operation of applying the terminal must be carried out rapidly and at low expense because of the vast numbers of pieces required.

Our present invention provides an apparatus by means of which terminals can be applied automatically and at an extremely rapid rate. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the componentsare carried by a conveyor past a crimping station or a pair of crimping stations (where two wires extend from the component) where terminals are crimped onto the wires. The conveyor may be an ordinary endless conveyor on which the components are loaded at one station and from which they are unloaded at another station. Advantageously, and in our preferred embodiment, however, the components are secured together in spaced sideby-side relationship by belting which is fed through the apparatus from a supply reel and wound upon a take-up reel after the terminals have been applied. The belting thus functions as a conveyor while the components are being fed through the apparatus, and the components having terminals crimped thereto are supplied from the machine in the convenient form of being secured together by tape which permits compact and safe storage.

Our preferred apparatus embodiment provides a means for feeding the belting intermittently through the machine and positioning each component successively at the crimping station or stations. The terminals are fed successively and automatically to the crimping station and the belting is moved laterally of its plane to position the component wire within the uncrimped terminal. The feeding mechanism for the terminals is reciprocably mounted and, during movement of the belt towards the terminal, moves away from the crimping station so that it will not interfere with the crimping operation. Another salient feature of the invention is a means for aligning and positioning accurately each component prior to crimping so that the terminals are positioned accurately on the component wires.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the 3,155,138 Patented Nov. 3, 1964 invention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodimentis not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention 'but is given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in'practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view, looking in the direction of the arrows 22 of FIGURE 1, showing one of the crimping presses and various associated mechanisms such 'asthe belt feed mechanism, the belt pulling mechanism, and the cam shaft by means of which the belt is manipulated and the terminals are fed, the terminal feed mechanism having been omitted from this view in the interest of clarity;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side view showing the top portion or the crimping press;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the belt pulling mechanism;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 2 but on an enlarged scale and showing only the central portion of the press, the associated terminal feed mechanism, and the belt feed and belt pulling mechanisms;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary end view taken along the line and looking in the direction of the arrows 66 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a view taken along the line and looking in the direction of the arrows 77 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 8 is a view taken along the line and looking in the direction of the arrows 88 of FIGURE 7. This view shows in elevation the component aligning mechanism, the belt guiding mechanism, and the terminal feeding mechanism;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8 but showing the parts in the positions they occupy when the component is lowered into a fed terminal;

FIGURES 10-A tolO-D are fragmentary views showing the terminal feed fingers and the crimping dies and illustrating the manner in which the belted material is fed and lowered for the crimping operation;

FIGURES 11-A to 11-E are fragmentary sectional views showing the action of the crimping dies and the manner in which a fed terminal is severed from the strip;

FIGURES l2 and 13 are perspective and plan views respectively of a section of belted components of the type adapted for use with the disclosed embodiment;

FIGURES 14 and 15 are sectional views taken along the line and looking in the direction of the arrows 14-44 of FIGURE 7 and showing portions of the terminal feed,

mechanism;

FIGURE 16 is a view taken along the line and looking in the direction of the arrows 1616 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 17 is a side view of a crimping die test of a type usable with the invention and adapted to crimp terminals of the type shown in FIGURES 12 and 13 onto belted components;

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary view showing an adjusting means for moving the two presses of the preferred embodiment to adjust the apparatus for varying sizes of components;

FIGURE 19 is a perspective view, with some parts broken away, showing a terminal feed mechanism in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 20 is a view taken along the line and looking in the direction of the arrows 20-40 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 21 is a timing diagram showing the movements of several of the parts of the apparatus;

FIGURE 22 is a wiring diagram showing a preferred control system for the apparatus, and

FIGURE 23 is a view similar to FIGURE 8 showing the crimping zone on an enlarged scale.

The disclosed apparatus embodiment of our invention is adapted to crimp terminals onto components which are secured together by belting or tape as shown in FIGURES 12 and 13. The components, which are shown as resistors 4 in the drawing, having wires 6, 8 extending axially from each end thereof are taped together in side-by-side parallel relationship by belting It), 12 which extends along each side of the components. As shown best in FIGURE 12, each of the strips of belting may comprise two strips of tape between which wires 6, 8 extend. Terminals T are crimped onto wires 6, 8 at predetermined positions between the strips of belting and the components 4. FIGURE 13 shows a section of tape having terminals crimped onto the wire 6 and therefore shows the condition of the belted components after passing through one of the crimping stations of the disclosed apparatus, while FIGURE 12 shows the belted components at the completion of the operation and after terminals have been crimped onto both of the wires.

Referring now to FIGURES 1, 2, and 6, the disclosed apparatus is mounted on a table or other suitable surface 14 supported by means of panels 16. An electric motor (not specifically shown) is mounted beneath surface 14 and provides a pulley which is coupled by means of a belt 18 to a pu ly 2t) keyed to the end of a main power shaft 22. The main power shaft is supported in suitable bearings provided in housings 24, 24 adjacent each end and has keyed thereto worm gears 26, as within these housings. Worm wheels 28, 28 which mesh with worm gears 26, 26' are keyed tocam shafts 3i), 3% which extend across surface 14 at right angles to power shaft 22.

Each of the cam shafts 3t), 30 has associated therewith the several mechanisms for feeding the belted components, for positioning each component, for feeding terminals, for raising and lowering the belted components, and for crimping the terminals. One of these sets of mechanisms crimps a terminal onto one of the wires extending from each component While the other mechanism subsequently crimps a terminal onto the other one of the wires. Since the two sets of mechanisms are substanrially alike, only one of these will be described in detail and the same reference numerals will be used to indicate corresponding parts of the two sets of mecha nisms 32, 32'. In the description which follows, only the mechanisms 32 (FIGURE 1) will be described in detail and specific reference will be made to the mechanisms 32, the corresponding parts of which are indicated by corresponding primed reference numerals, where necessary.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3, each mechanism provides a frame or housing having side plates 34- which are cut away as shown in 33 to permit passage of the belt of components, a base plate 35 (FIGURE 6), an upper front plate 36 secured to side plates 34, a lower front plate 37, and back plates 38, 41. Portions of front plate 37 and back plate 41 extend transversely beyond side plate 34 and provide bearing supports for cam shaft 30 as shown in FIGURE 2.

A shaft 49 extending through the top portion of the housing is supported in bearings 42 which in turn are carried by a sleeve 44 secured to front plate 36 and back plate 38. A sprocket 46 mounted on the end of shaft 40 is coupled bymeans of a chain 4 8 to a sprocket i) on cam shaft 30. The front end of shaft 40 as viewed in FIGURE 2, has keyed thereto an eccentric 52 which is rotatably received within the circular bearing portion 54 of a connecting rod having a stud 56 extending from the end thereof connected by means of a ball and socket joint 58 to a reciprocating ram 60 which carries a movable crimping die 59 described below. Adjustable guide i blocks or gibs 52 (FIGURE 5) are secured to plate 36 on each side of ram 6%, and blocks 53 are secured to plate 36 on each side of these guide blocks. Advantageously adjusting screws 65 extend through blocks 63 to permit accurate adjustment of the guide blocks to compensate for wear of the ram.

Sprocket 5G is of the same diameter as sprocket 46 and it will therefore be apparent that for each revolution of cam shaft 3%, press shaft 44) is rotated through one revolution and the ram so reciprocates through a single complete cycle. During each cycle the belted components are fed a distance equal to the spacing between adjacent components or the pitch of the belt in a manner described below.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, the belted components are supplied to the apparatus from a supply reel 64 which is mounted for rotation on a stationary shaft 6% carried by a bracket es bolted to an apron extending from surface 14. The belted components are fed across the upper surface of table 14 and accurately positioned at each of the crimping stations of the two sets of mechanisms 32, 32 and are delivered to a take-up reel 72 which is mounted as by keying on a shaft '74 carried by brackets 76. A pully '78 secured on an end of shaft 74 is connected by means of a belt 89 to a pully 82 (FIGURB6) secured to a shaft 34 carried by suitable bearings mounted on a cross piece as which extends between panels in of the table. Shaft 84 provides a sprocket 37 around which a chain 38 extends to a sprocket mounted on cam shaft 3G. Advantageously a slip clutch 74a is provided on shaft 74 to compensate for the changing eifectivediameter of the reeled belting as reel 74 becomes full. Thus a positive drive for winding up the belted components which have had terminals crlmped thereto is provided but the belted components must be pulled off of the supply reel at which is not positively driven.

As shown best in FIGURES 2 and 5, the belted components are pulled from the supply reel 64 by means of a pair of sprockets 92 which provide teeth adapted to extend between the fires of adjacent components and over which the belting extends as shown in FIGURE 5. Sprockets 92 are keyed to a shaft 54 (FIGURE 4) mounted in bearings provided in a suitable housing as and having a spur gear 93 on the end thereof which meshes with a spur gear ltlil on a stub shaft 101 which extends from a bracket 99 affixed to side plate 34. A sprocket 1G2 also mounted on shaft 1&1 is connected by means of a chain 1M to a sprocket on a shaft 105 which extends through a speed reducer in a housing 107 to a sprocket we coupled by means of a chain 108 to a sprocket 110 mounted on shaft 40 adjacent previously mentioned sprocket 46. During the continuous operation of the machine, sprockets 92 are continuously and slowly rotated to pull the belting from supply reel 64 and to maintain a slack portion in the belting at the point before it enters the crimping and associated mechanisms 32. As explained below, it is desirable to provide electrical control means to prevent an excessive amount of slack belting building up at a point in front of the sprockets 92.

As shown in FIGURE 5, a hold down device for maintaining the belting against and in engagement with sprocket Wheels 92 is provided in the form of a pair of arcuate guides 91 secured to a block 93. The weight of the block forces the arcuate portions of the guides against the belting and thereby forces the belting against the sprocket wheels. Block 93 is mounted for vertical movement by means of a pin-slot connection 95 on a bar 97 which is clamped by a clamping device on bracket 99. By virtue of the clamping arrangement shown, the hold down device can be adjusted to some extent in order to center it properly with reference to the axis of the sprocket wheels. I

The mechanism described above for pulling the belting from the supply reel does not position accurately the individual components in the crimping zone and to accomplish this end, each of the mechanisms 32, 32' provides a positive intermittently operated feed means which will now be described.

As shown best in FIGURE 5, a cam 112 is keyed to shaft 40 in front of a retainer plate 53. Cam 112 engages a cam follower 118 carried on one of the arms of a bell crank 114 pivoted to plate 36 at 116. The other arm 117 of the bell crank is connected to a push rod 120 which extends to an arm 122 of another bell crank pivoted at 124 to a stub shaft extending through the left hand one of the guide plates 62 as viewed in FIGURE 5. The remaining arm 126 of this bell crank is pivotally connected to one end of a rod 130 which is pivotally connected at its opposite end 132 to a pin extending from a generally open framework having side members 134 and end members 138. This open frame is suspended by means of straps 136 which are secured by means of bolts and lock nuts 137 to side members 34. It is desirable to provide slots for the bolts in the suspension system in order that the frame may be moved upwardly for servicing the other components of the apparatus. A spring 140 extends from a pin on the right hand one of the guide blocks 62 as viewed in FIGURE 5 to arm 126 of the bell crank pivoted at 124 and tends to bias the open frame 134, 138 rightwardly as viewed .in FIGURE 5. p

The front side piece 134 of the open frame as viewed in FIGURES 5, 19 and -A-10-D has secured thereto a plate 143 from which depend feed fingers 142 which are slotted as shown at 142a. A T-shaped member 139 of plastic or other suitable dielectric material is secured to plate 134 and is also slotted at 139a. As best shown in FIGURES 10A10-D, slot 139a receives the wire which in a particular cycle is to have a terminal crimped thereto and moves this wire and its resistor up to the crimping station between upper die 59 and the lower die while slots 142a receive the wires from adjacent resistors. It is desirable to provide multiple slots for several wires as shown and distribute the pulling forces on the belt in order to avoid unduly high stressing and possible bending of any one of the Wires. Also, multiple slots prevent misfeeding if a single component is missing from the belt. T-shaped member 139 is of dielectric as previously mentioned and contains an electrical contactting element 384 to sense the presence of the wire as described below. Contacting element 384, which forms part of a control circuit described below, is a section of fine wires supported by a fastener 384a and is pushed aside when a wire is in place. The rear sidepiece 134 of the open frame also carries depending fingers 145 which are in alignment with the feed fingers on the front sidepiece. The fingers on the rear sidepiece do not include T-shaped dielectric member corresponding to the member 139 since it is necessary to contact electrically only one of the wires 6, 8 to which a terminal is to be crimped.

Oscillating motion is imparted to the open frame and the fingers by means of cam 112 and the linkage 117, 120, 12,2 described above. The belting itself is lowered and raised during select portions of the operating cycle to bring the components in the area of the crimping zone into engagement with the fingers during the feeding stroke of frame 134, 138 and to lower a wire from a positioned resistor onto the lower crimping die at the time of crimping. The mechanism for raising and lowering the belting will now be described.

Referring now to FIGURES 7, 8, 9, and 20, cam shaft 30 has mounted thereon by means of clamps 147 a pair of cams 141, 143 which are engaged by cam followers carried on the ends of arms 146, 148. Arms 146, 148 extend from hubs 146a, 148a mounted for oscillation on a stationary shaft 152 which extends parallel to cam 'shaft 30 and is carried by the extensions of the plates 37, 41. Hubs 146a and 148a are adjustably secured by means of bolts 151, and slots 149 to a central hub 15% from which extends an arm 154 through an opening 156 in side plate 34. Arm 154 is pivotally connected at its end to a push rod 158, this push rod in turn being pivotally connected-at its opposite end 160 to a stud 162 (FIGURES 8 and 9). This stud extends through a slide member 164 and through an opening 266 in lower front plate 37. The slide member is reciprocably mounted between guides or gibs 166 on rear side of plate 37 and disposed between side plates 34. An arm 168 which projects from the top portion of slide 164 has an enlarged end portion to which is secured by means of bolts 172 the sides 176 of an open frame having a central open portion 174 and atop plate 176 secured to sides by bolts 177. An arm 178 has an end portion 179 slidably received between guides 180 bolted to top plate 176. End portion 179 is adjustably secured to top plate 176 by means of a clamping plate 184 and a locking cam 188. Plate 184 rocks on a stud 186 which extends from top plate 176 through a slot in end portion 179. When cam 188 is in the position of FIGURE 9, plate 184 presses end portion 179 against the top plate and locks it.

The end of arm 178 adjacent the crimping zone is bifurcated as shown at 192 (FIGURE 7) and an upper guide bar 194 is fastened to these extensions 192 as shown best in FIGURES 7, 8 and 23. This guide bar extends horizontally in the orientation shown and in cooperation with a lower guide bar 2%, guides the belted component on one side and lowers and raises it. The lower guide bar 260 is secured on the ends of arms 198 of an L-shaped member 196 which is secured to the underside of arm 178 by bolts 195.

As previously mentioned stud 162 extends through an opening in plate 37 and within this opening provides a stop member 208 which limits the vertical reciprocatory motion of the slide assembly. The end of stud 162 is secured to a slide plate or shear plate 216 (see also FIGURE 19) having a slot 212 therein through which terminals are fed. The upper portion of plate 210 has extensions 214 on each side thereof and a pair of U-shaped members 216 have one of their legs secured to this upper portion of the plate. by the upper legs of U-shaped members 216 so that the upper portion of plate 216 and the bar 218 guide the belting in the same manner as the guide bars 194, 211i). Advantageously, upper guide bar 218 carries an additional bar 219 which is spaced from bar 218 by means of spacers 217. As best shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, upper crimping die 59 extends between the spaced bars 218, 219 so that the two bars function to dislodge the terminal from the upper crimping die as the die ascends after completion of the crimping operation. V i

In normal operation of the apparatus, the components are initially positioned as shown in FIGURE 8 with their wires extending between the guide bars 194, 208 and between the guide bars 214, 218, 219. During operation, the belt is maintained in the elevated position of FIGURE 8 during the feeding portion of each cycle, the actual feeding of the belt being accomplished during movement of feed fingers 142 leftwardly in FIGURE 5, such leftward movement of the fingers being controlled by cam 112 on shaft 40. At the conclusion of the feeding portion of the cycle, the belt is lowered from the position of FIGURE 8 to the position of FIGURE 9, such lowering of the belt being accomplished by cam 143 which rocks arm 148 thereby lowering push rod 158 and lowering slide member 164. The slide member in turn carries downwardly both of the sets of guide bars 194, 260 and 218, 214. At the conclusion of the crimping portion of the cycle, the slide member 164 is raised by cam 141 as it oscillates hub 150 in the opposite direction on shaft 152. It might be added that it is desirable to provide the two cams 141, 143, rather than a single cam, to achieve An upper guide bar 218 is carried lowering and raising of slide 164, in order to assure positive operation of the mechanism. While the belt is in its lowered position, the feed fingers return rightwardly in FIGURE and when the belt is raised, it is positioned such that the fingers extend between the wire leads on several adjacent components.

it is desirable under many circumstances that the terminals T be positioned accurately on the leads 6 and 8 with reference to the bodies of the components 4 since it is often required that a specific length of wire be provided between the terminal and the body of the component, particularly where the component is to be used in a fairly crowded circuit as on a printed circuit board. Our preferred embodiment provides means for aligning accurately each component prior to crimping with reference to the crimping dies so that such accurate positioning of the terminals will be achieved. The aligning means (FIGURES 7, 8, 9 and is actuated once during each cycle by a cam 22% on shaft 3% which engages a cam follower 222 (FIGURE 2) on one end of a lever 22-; which is pivoted intermediate its ends at 226 to a bracket extending from plate 3 4. The opposite end of lever 224 is connected to a push rod 227 which is pivotally connected at its opposite end at 2.2% to an arm extending from a hub 23d (FEGURES 7 and 16) keyed or otherwise secured to a shaft 232. A reduced diameter portion oi hub 23% is rotatably supported in a sleeve bearing 23%. This sleeve and the shaft extend through an opening in plate 34 and the sleeve bearing is supported by an annular flange 235 which is secured to a plate 236 which plate is bolted as at 237 to a fixed arm 233. Arm 213$ extends from front plate 3'7 and is secured thereto by bolts 24%. The end of arm 238 has secured thereto a plate 23? and on the upper surfaces of plates 236, 239 guide rails 248 are mounted. A slide member 246 is received between guides for reciprocatory motion and has a rac; bar 244 on its underside which meshes with a spur gear 242 keyed to shaft 232. A rod 250 is thread-edly received by a cap member 251 bolted to slide member 2-6 5 and extends through the back plate of the press housing. Intermediate its ends this rod provides a clamp which receives the ends of a slidable member 2554 i which extends towards the crimping zone through a channel in cap member 251 as viewed in FIGURE 9. This clamp includes a spring 255, an abutment 252 and a nut 255. A pusher plate Edd (FZGURE 23) is mounted on the end of member 254 adjacent the crimping zone so that as cam shaft 39 rotates and lever 224 is rocked by this cam shaft, gear 242 is oscillated with shaft 232 and the plate 2559 is moved towards and away from the crimping zone. The movement of this plate 26% toward the crimping zone takes place after lowering of the belt of components and prior to crimping so that a component lowered from the position of FIGURE 8 to the position of FIGURE 9 is pushed leftwardly in FIGURE 9 until it abuts an adjustably fixed plate 262. This fixed plate is provided on the end of a bearing plate 264 which in turn is secured to a block 256 supported on arm 23% from which a rod ass extends rearwardly through the press housing and through an opening in block 246 to a knob 2.72. Cap screws 264a extend through a slot in slidable member 254 and guide this member on its path. The position of fixed plate 262 can be adjusted by rotation of knob 2'72 to accommodate a range of component sizes and to regulate the distance between the component and the terminals on the wires extending from the ends thereof. in like manner, rotation of knob S adjusts plate 254- and plate 25% relative to block 24 6 so that the position of this plate can be regulated for the size of the component.

The terminal feed mechanism which will now be described is mounted upon an L-shaped carrier 2% (FlG URES 8, 9, and 19) which reciprocates vertically towards and away from the crimping Zone along a path determined by guide blocks 232 secured to lower front plate 37. Periodic reciprocation of carrier 290 is achieved by means of a cam set 274, 276, FIGURES 5 and 7, keyed or otherwise secured to shaft 36 which engages cam followers on arms extending from hubs 278, 27'? mounted on stationary shaft 152. Hubs 273, 279 are adjustably secured to a central hub 2-81 in the rnan ner previously described with reference to hubs 146a, 14811, 159. An arm 280 extends from hub 231 on the opposite side from cams 274i, 276 and is pivotally connected to a push rod 286 which in turn is pivotally connected at 288 to the L-shaped feed mechanism carrier 2%. As is the case with the belt raising and lowering mechanism, a pair of cams 274, 2'76 are provided for raising and lowering the terminal feed mechanism carrier in order to assure positive motion of this part in timed sequence with the terminal feeding operation and the crimping operation.

The terminal feed mechanism itself comprises a pneumatic cylinder 294 mounted on carrier 2% which is connected to a suitable source of compressed air (not shown) and which is actuated by a pair of microswitches 2.93, 2% (FIGURE 1) which control the action of a solenoid valve shown in the Wiring diagram, FIGURE 22. Cylinder 294 is provided with an internal spring which normally maintains it in the position shown in FIGURE 9 so that when microswitch 2% is closed, compressed air is admitted to the lower end of this cylinder to cause piston rod 296 to move upwardly. This piston rod is connected by means of a link 297 to a bell crank pivoted at 29.3 to carrier 2%. The remaining arm 30% of this bell crank is connected by means of a link 302 to a slide member 3% (FIGURES 14 and 15) having a boss depending therefrom. A rod 3% extends from this boss into a suitable opening in the horizontal arm 3% of carrier 2-90. An extension 335a on the end of arm 3% has an opening therein which receives the end of rod 3% and a stop nut thereon which limits movement of the slide member thereby to limit movement of the terminal strip during the feeding operation.

Slide member 394 is guided for reciprocatoiy movement between guides 398 and carries a pair of pivotally mounted fingers 310 which are normally biased by means of a spring 312 towards each other (FlGURES l4 and 15). A feed track 369 is secured to arm 365 and extends toward the crimping dies. A drag plate 316 provides a projection 31% which extends towards the feed track and normally maintains the strip of terminals resiliently against the feed track. As shown best in FIGURES l4 and 15 the feed track extends over slide member 304 although the track itself does not move with the slide member. Drag plate 316 is pivoted to a bell crank 320 which in turn is pivoted to a block 322 and has a spring 324 extending from one arm thereof to a bracket 326 extending from block 322.

Terminals are supplied from a reel 327 mounted for rotation on a shaft 325 carried by a bracket 331 which in turn is secured to the side of table 14. The terminal strip thus extends across surface 14 towards the feed mechanism and to track 3%. A microswitch 339 supported on a bracket 328 provides a contact 332 in extension Slfia which engages the strip and permits operation of the apparatus only when a supply of terminals is available for feeding towards the crimping zone. It will be apparent from FIGURES 8, 9, and 19 that as piston rod 2% swings bell crank 29% about its pivot point the slide member is moved rightwardly in FIGURE 9 carrying with it the spring biased fingers which in turn grip and deliver a terminal through slot 212 to the lower crimping die 32% carried by front plate 37. Terminal feed takes place when the parts are in the position of FXGURE 8, that is when the carrier 2% is in its elevated position. Subsequently, carrier 2&0 moves downwardly and slide member 216 also moves downwardly however, as best shown in FIGURES 11a1le, the slide member overtakes the terminal feed mechanism carrier 290 during such downward movement and initially severs the fed terminal from the strip of terminals at the interface between the fixed crimping die 329 and the slide member 210. Upon further downward movement of both the terminal feed carrier 290 and the slide member 210, the slide member further overtakes the carrier and the slug is severed from the leading terminal of the strip at the interface between the slide member and a shearing blade 291. This slug falls downwardly as shown in FIGURE 11-e and may be disposed of through an exit chute not specifically shown.

The various simultaneous and overlapping operations which take place during a single operating cycle of the apparatus can best be understood from the timing diagram of FIGURE 21 which relates all of the operations to a single rotation of cam shaft 30 and assumes as a starting point the position of this cam shaft when the ram 60 is at its top dead center position. At the start of the cycle, a previously fed terminal is located on lower crimping die 329 and the terminal feed mechanism, carried by L-shaped carrier 290, is in the raised or up position. The fed terminal will not have been severed from the strip of terminals but will be joined to the strip extending through slot 212. Also at the start of the cycle the component aligner 260 will be in the retracted position (FIGURE 8) and the belt will be undergoing feeding by feed fingers 142, 143, 145.

During about the first 60 of the rotation of shaft 30 feeding of the belted components continues by leftward movement in FIGURE of the feed fingers. The feed fingers then dwell for an interval during which the belt is depressed by downward movement of the belt depressor mechanism comprising the guide bars 194, 269, 214 and 218 and their associated structure. As the belt is depressed, one of the wires extending from the resistor is lowered into a previously positioned terminal as illustrated in FIGURES 11-A to 11-E. During the interval when the belt is lowered, the terminal feed mechanism is also lowered and the fed terminal is severed from the strip as shown in FIGURE 11-C. As the ram de scends during this same interval the severed terminal is gripped between the two parallel sides 394 (FIGURE 17) of crimping die 59 to prevent its turning or rolling relative to the wire. As downward movement of the ram continues, the terminal sidewalls are bent inwardly by the tapering sides 396 of the die and finally are curled towards each other by the reversely curved die portions 398 when the ram bottoms. Prior to bottoming of the ram and crimping die, the component aligner moves rapidly forward toward the crimping zone and retracts accurately to position the component with reference to the crimping die so that the terminal will be crimped onto the wire at the desired position. Also prior to bottoming of the ram, the slug which remains after the leading terminal is severed from the strip is cut (FIGURE ll-E) as the terminal feed mechanism continues to move down wardly. While the belt is depressed and the terminal is being crimped, open frame 134, 136 which carries the feed fingers moves rightwardly as viewed in FIGURE 5 and dwells.

After the ram begins its ascent, the belt is raised and brought into contact with the feed fingers and during about the final 60 of rotation of the cam shaft the belt is fed to position the next adjacent terminal between the crimping dies. It will be noted that the actual feeding of the belt and the movement of the feed fingers encompasses the top dead center position of the ram and takes place during an interval of about 120. The terminal feed mechanism is raised after bottoming of the ram, and after it reaches its elevated position of FIGURE 8, the next adjacent terminal is fed onto the lower crimping die. By this time the belt will have been raised and does not interfere with the terminal feed operation.

As previously mentioned, it is desirable to provide means for adjusting the machine for different sizes of components and different lengths of wire or widths of belt. Such adjusting means is shown in FIGURE 18 which shows the underside of surface 14. As is apparent from FIGURE 18, each of the press housings is mounted on a bed plate 35 having a pin 36 extending through a slot 338 in surface 14. Bed plate 35 is confined between guide ways 334, 333 for sliding motion towards and away from the path of belt feed. Simultaneous adjustment of both presses is achieved by means of links 349, 340' which connect pins 336, 336' with a lever 344 pivoted at 346 to a boss 348 mounted centrally between the two mechanisms 32, 32. Lever 344 is pivotally connected at one end 350 to a link 352 which in turn is pivoted to an arm 354 extending from a shaft 356 on a gear train contained in housing 358. A shaft 359 on the other end of this gear train provides a hand wheel 360 accessible from one side of the apparatus as shown best in FIG- URE 1. It will be noted that pivot points 342, 342 are equal distant from central pivot 346 so that as hand wheel 360 is rotated, the two mechanisms 32, 32' are moved simultaneously towards and away from the path of belt feed.

During such motion of course cam shaft 30, 30' must also move by the same amount as the associated housings 32, 32'. To this end each of the cam shafts has a splined coupling 361 adjacent main power shaft 22 which permits such motion of the cam shafts. As shown best in FIGURE 6, locking means comprising locking bolts 363 extend through the bed plates of the two mechanisms 32, 32' and are provided with locking nuts 364 on their ends.

Referring now to FIGURE 22, in one wiring arrangement for the apparatus power is supplied from a v. source through a master switch 366, through conductors 367, 369 to a magnetic starter 368 for the motor M. The magnetic starter is connected by means of conductors 370, 371, 374 to a pair of start, stop, jog switches 372, 372' which are located on opposite sides of the machine, these switches being wired in a manner such that the operation of the entire machine can be controlled from either station. The wiring between these switches is not specifically shown in as much as it involves only known principles. However, it should be noted that conductor 374, which connects one of the switches to the magnetic starter connects in series switches 330, 330' and 376, 376'. Switches 330, 330 are normally open but are mechanically closed by the strip of terminals T (see FIG- URE 9) so that the machine is stopped if the supply of terminals becomes exhausted at either crimping station. Switch 376 (FIGURE 5) is controlled by a lever 375 which is contacted by the belt as it leaves sprockets 92 and controls the amount of slack in the belt. If the slack belting as shown in FIGURE 5 becomes too great, lever 375 opens microswitch 376 thus stopping the machine. Switch 376' performs a somewhat similar function with regard to the belting leaving the machine and being wound on take-up reel 72. At the exit side of the machine, slack as shown in FIGURE 5 should also be provided. If the belt becomes overly taut, switch 376' is opened.

A control system 378 for the terminal feed mechanisms comprises a transformer 379 from the low voltage secondary of which extends conductors 392, 394 to duplicate control elements for each terminal feed mechanism. Since the control circuits are alike, only the control circuit indicated by the unprimed reference numerals will be described in detail. Conductor 392 extends to a twoposition solenoid 390 from the windings of which extend conductors 391, 393. Each position of the core for solenoid 390 has its own winding so that movement of the core in both directions is positively controlled by energizing one of the windings. Conductor 391 extends to normally open microswitch 293, previously mentioned, which is closed once during each cycle by a cam on shaft 30 (see FIGURE 1). This switch, 293, is connected di- 

1. APPARATUS FOR CRIMPING TERMINALS IN END-TO-END STRIP FORM ONTO WIRES EXTENDING FROM ELECTRICAL DEVICES SUCH AS RESISTORS, SAID DEVICES BEING SECURED TOGETHER IN SPACED APART SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATIONSHIP, SAID APPARATUS BEING ADAPTED TO CRIMP A TERMINAL ONTO EACH OF SAID WIRES BETWEEN SAID DEVICE AND THE END OF SAID WIRE, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING, A PAIR OF CRIMPING DIES MOVABLE RELATIVELY TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, A PLATFORM DISPOSED ADJACENT TO SAID DIES AND HAVING MEANS FOR FEEDING A STRIP OF SAID TERMINALS TOWARDS SAID DIES TO POSITION THE LEADING TERMINAL OF SAID STRIP BETWEEN SAID DIES, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID DIES RELATIVELY TOWARDS EACH OTHER, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID PLATFORM FROM SAID DIES ALONG A PATH EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID DIES DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID DIES TOWARD EACH OTHER THEREBY TO PROVIDE CLEARANCE FOR SAID WIRE DURING CRIMPING, A SHEAR PLATE DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID PLATFORM AND SAID DIES, AN OPENING IN SAID SHEAR PLATE TO PERMIT FEEDING OF SAID SAID TERMINAL STRIP FROM SAID PLATFORM TO A POSITION BETWEEN SAID DIES, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID SHEAR PLATE ALONG A PATH EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID PLATFORM THEREBY TO SEVER SAID LEADING TERMINAL FROM SAID STRIP AS SAID PLATFORM AND SAID STRIP MOVE AWAY FROM SAID DIES. 